Queen's Edge Farm: Proverbs

Saturday, May 24, 2008

The spiritual side of things

Don't run off, I am not going to preach to you...LOL. I just like to record my thoughts here, primarily for myself, but if someone else reads it, that's fine too. Bear in mind, I don't know many that read my blog, but wanted to clarify what I would be writing next.

In keeping with my commitment to read God's Word daily, and apply to my life, I have been reading in Psalms and Proverbs all week. Throughout the week I have had a couple of disappointments, and moments of uncharitable thoughts and attitudes, primarily towards my own family.

One incident is that the land agent called to let us know that the property next to us has come up for sale again. Rodney and I had discussed buying this piece if it ever came up again for sale. So, when it did, I was excited, called him to let him know, and he said no. I was highly upset, and was tempted to buy it anyway, in my name. I grit my teeth, and called the land agent back and told him that Rodney had declined for now, due to the house not being sold yet.

Here are some verses that have helped me get through this upset:

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

Proverbs 15:27a "A greedy man brings trouble to his family,"

Proverbs 17:14 "Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out."

Proverbs 19: 14 "Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord."

Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

Proverbs 21: 2-3 "All a man's ways seems right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice."

Proverbs 23:4 "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint."

In relation to my continued thoughts on if and how I would help family and friends in the event of a deeper recession, or depression, after advising people to prepare, I am still torn. I find verses that tell me to keep my mouth shut, after being rejected, to rescuing them. It is very conflicting.

The morning I was praying over this matter, I immediately came across Proverbs 12:23, "A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly."

and Proverbs 12:4 "The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied." But in Proverbs 24:11 "Rescue those being led away to death, hold back those staggering toward slaughter."

And the morning I was praying over continued patience with regards to the house selling, and my burning need to have a home on the land I found this verse in Proverbs 24:27 "Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house."

Many may say that these are "coincidences" and that I read into what I find what I want to find, but I don't believe in coincidences. Everything happens for a reason.

I just wanted to take time to give a shout out to God and say "thanks! Love ya man!"

Grandma's Yummy Cinnamon Rolls

2 pkgs active dry yeast or 5 tsps if using bulk yeast
1/2 cup warm water (not too hot)
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening, butter, margarine
2 tsps salt
2 cups milk, scalded
1 1/2 cups cold water
10 to 12 cups flour (white or whole wheat)

Yield: 4 loaves

Soften yeast in warm water, springkle in a tsp of the sugar
In LARGE mixing bowl blend sugar, shortening, salt and milk until shortening is melted. Add cold water, cool to luke-warm. Stir in yeast. Gradually add flour to form a stiff dough. Knead on floured surface until smooth and satiny, 5 to 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover with foil or damp towel. Let rise in warm place (85 to 90 deg) until light and doubled in volume about two hours. Punch dough down by plunging fist in center. Knead dough for about 5 minutes.

Roll out one fourth of dough to a 16 X 12 inch rectangle. Brush with 2 TBSP of melted butter. Combine 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon (or more to taste). Sprinkle mixture over dough. Starting with 16 inch side, roll jellyroll fashion. Either cut into 16 1 inch slices or leave as a whole loaf. Place on a greased pan, cover and let rise in warm place until light, about 30 to 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees about 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Mix one box 10X sugar with 2 tbsps water. If too stiff, add more water until icing consistency, add a drop of vanilla too. Spread on baked bread while bread is still warm.

2010 Homestead Stats

Laundry Soap

Homemade Laundry Soap:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above
½ cup washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small washpan or bowl that holds about 2 gallons.

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the washpan. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Transfer soap (using a funnel if necessary) into empty plastic laundry holders, milk containers (I use my empty glass milk bottles and old Fab containers) Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

Wild Mustang Grape Jelly

Wild Mustang Grape Jelly

5 cups grape juice (about 3 1/2 pounds of ripe grapes)1 (1 3/4 ounce) box of sure-jel pectin7 cups sugarBefore getting started it is best to clean the entire kitchen, making sure the sink is empty. Bleach the sink and all utensils used in making jelly (I do this as I sell my grape jelly as part of my homesteading business.)

Wash the canning jars in warm soapy water, and rinse well. Set off to side.

Place a large pan of water on the stove to heat. Once it starts steaming, place lids and rings in the bottom, and 2-3 jars (depending on if you use actual jelly jars or pints) to sterilize.

Next make the grape juice using clean washed grapes (make sure you use rubber gloves when picking or washing wild grapes)To 3 1/2 pounds of clean grapes (6 cups of grapes) add 1 1/2 cups water.Bring to a boil and simmer covered for 10 minutes.Strain and squeeze out all of the juice with cheese cloth (see paragraph below)
I didn't have cheese cloth, so I poured the grape mixture into a large spaghetti strainer with a large pan underneath. I had to stir it around some as the skins and seeds would sink to the bottom, and clog the colander up. Stirring allowed the liquid to drain out. I then used a large metal spoon and squished it some to get more of the juice out.

In a very big pan, put 5 cups of the juice (it’s okay to add no more than ½ cup water to even out amount)Add the fruit pectin to the juice.Mix well.On high heat, bring to a full rolling boil, and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.Stir in sugar all at once, and bring back to a full rolling boil, again boil hard for 1 minute stirring constantly.
Remove jelly from heat, skim off foam
Use a large spoon inserted inside the jar to lift CAREFULLY out of the water. DO NOT TOUCH THE INSIDE OF THE JAR OR THE RIM WITH YOUR HANDS.
Ladle jelly into hot jars, place a lid and ring onto jar (do not tighten yet).
Set jars to the side. After a while you should start hearing “pings” as the jar seals.
When jars are completely cool, tighten rings and store on pantry shelf.**SIDE NOTE: Wild Mustang Grapes are normally ready the end of June, so be prepared. Keep an eye open for vines on the side of the road, or any that friends and family may have growing in their yard. Many people just let them grow and don’t do anything with them, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a good supply. Also, the more you pick off the vine, the more the vine produces new grapes, so you probably won’t EVER run out of grapes to use until the vine dies or you get sick of making jelly. Good luck and feel free to contact me at queensedgefarm@yahoo.com for questions.